What's Eddies Secret
Posted
about 1 year
ago

Everywhere that Eddie goes, success follows shortly after. The Rugby Site has gotten to know Eddie over the last few years, as he is an avid contributor and fan of our website. We have got to see how the man operates, as a person, as a coach, with a really successful rugby brain.

Whilst one reason may never stand in isolation about his success, weather that be with South Africa, or the Brumbies, or Australia, or Saracens, or Suntory, or Japan, or last weekend with England, there was a moment which encapsulated the one thing that we at the rugby site believe has been a big driver in his success.

Intensity

Eddie Is 56 years old. Weights about 50 kgs less than his players and is a million times shorter, and has had a dogey ticker. Yet, in the warm up to the England v Australia game Eddie is out there in his dress shoes hunting rucks in the warmup, in a mad dog Lewis Moody kinda way. What’s he doing?

What does it achieve?

Eddies intensity to get out there and foot it, and berate his players to do better, does one thing. Instills belief.

His intensity equals player belief

They believe him. They see the intensity in everything he does. He anyalisis, his organisation, his drills, his tactics. They see how intense he is in the pursuit of creating a successful team, and they believe everything he tells them, in everything he does. The art of being a successful coach is getting 15 able men (or woman) to do the same thing, completely, in a totally united way.

The best teams are those that work as one collective unit. Those that each member is unwaveringly convinced that the way they do things is the right way, the best way for them.

Eddie brings teams together because of his intensity in everything he does to that team. He was out there in the warmup at Twickernam in a suit, foaming at the mouth, barking like a dog, not letting up, biting hard on the bone of intensity that defines him as a coach. This intensity ensures that he has and always will be a very successful coach.

If you want to get into his mindset, visit The Rugby Site he has scorces of videos which show all his detailed preparation.

Comments

After retirement from his professional playing career (Highlanders, Hurricanes and Leicester Tigers) in 2009 Herring was employed as assistant coach at the European giant Leicester Tigers. He worked as a skills coach as well as contact specialist for two seasons, with over 60 games in a coaching capacity, including Heineken cup Semi finals and Premiership victories.
In 2011 Herring was signed for the long standing Japanese top league side, NEC Green Rockets, as forwards and defence coach. He joined former Blues Head coach Greg Cooper. In his first season they finished in third place, their highest finish in the top league in recent history.
In 2013 Herring became an international coach with the Canadian 15s and 7s teams.
He joins The Rugby Site team as contents manager bringing his fresh and culturally diverse understanding of rugby.